Blessed are the meek
“I’m sorry but you have rabies,” a physician told a dog-bite victim.
The patient immediately got a pad and pencil and started writing. Worried, the doctor asked, “Are you writing a will already? I know that rabies is usually fatal. But I heard there were a few who survived it. We can still try to cure you.”
The patient barked, “No, I’m not writing a will. I’m making a list of all the people I’m going to bite!” [1]
“Don’t get mad. Get even.” That seems to be the world’s motto. But that’s weak. Our Lord Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5, NIV) Merriam and Webster Online Dictionary defined “meek” as “enduring injury with patience and without resentment”. In short, a meek person does not hold grudges or take revenge. It is just sad that the dictionary also defined “meek” as “deficient in spirit and courage”. I beg to disagree. Meekness is not weakness. A meek person is a strong person.
It takes a strong person to turn the other cheek or to walk the extra mile. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17a, 19-21) To heap burning coals on a person’s head is “a metaphor for keen anguish. The Arabs have a proverb ‘coals in the heart’… Such kindness may lead to repentance also.” (Robertson’s Word Pictures) In short, you don’t retaliate but you reach out in love to the person. It takes strength not to take matters in one’s hand but to put it in God’s hand.
Brethren, we are called to be meek, not weak.
The patient immediately got a pad and pencil and started writing. Worried, the doctor asked, “Are you writing a will already? I know that rabies is usually fatal. But I heard there were a few who survived it. We can still try to cure you.”
The patient barked, “No, I’m not writing a will. I’m making a list of all the people I’m going to bite!” [1]
“Don’t get mad. Get even.” That seems to be the world’s motto. But that’s weak. Our Lord Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5, NIV) Merriam and Webster Online Dictionary defined “meek” as “enduring injury with patience and without resentment”. In short, a meek person does not hold grudges or take revenge. It is just sad that the dictionary also defined “meek” as “deficient in spirit and courage”. I beg to disagree. Meekness is not weakness. A meek person is a strong person.
It takes a strong person to turn the other cheek or to walk the extra mile. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17a, 19-21) To heap burning coals on a person’s head is “a metaphor for keen anguish. The Arabs have a proverb ‘coals in the heart’… Such kindness may lead to repentance also.” (Robertson’s Word Pictures) In short, you don’t retaliate but you reach out in love to the person. It takes strength not to take matters in one’s hand but to put it in God’s hand.
Brethren, we are called to be meek, not weak.
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